Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-09-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
Brave Little Trude.

Gertrude May is my sister-in-law, bright
little fairy of 10, with pair of eyes like stars,
and a merry thrifty way about her calculated
to make man forget that this is hard, work
a-day world, full of vcxation and disappoint-
mcnt.
When Annie and were married we took
Gertrude to live with us; could not bear the
thought of the lovely girl going to meet the
world in some mcnial occupation, and Annie
was thankful to have her sister with her.
Gertrude" Trude'' we always called tho
dear child-paid her way, I assure you.
After the birth of Baby Grace she took the
entire management of the household upon her
young shoulders. and. though VIC never kept n
servant, my wife scarcely knew what it was to
have a care in the world.
So we went on for n couple of years as hap
py as birds in a nest, making much of the bles-
sings we had, thinking little or nothing of our
privations.
Alas, never dreamed that the first reverse
would come to us through me.
Yes, was to be blamed?
Ever hard worker, one particularly. hot
summer had double duty to perform at the
bank. aud 1 ove-tasked my ability.
L remember falling with dull crash beneath
my desk one day. and it wasilyecks ere WAS
conscious that lay at home in my own Led,
carefully tended by Annie and Trude.
had been stricken down with brain fever
and the doctor had said the struggle back to
health and strength would be long and serious,
for my system was wholly dcbilitated by over
work.
After about six weeks, and had been de-
clared ont of danger, awoke one evening, af-
ter taking n long nap, to find the room deep in
twilight and very silent.
lay for some time in a drowsy state when
suddenly 1 was aroused by the unmistakable
sound of sob close by me, followed by the
low. earnest voice of Trude.
Don't cry, Annie. dear" she said soothing
ly, 'yOu1l wake him."
"Oh. but, Trude, what are we to dor" fall
tered my wife.
"We shall pull through all right, dear, never
fear! J" was tho brave reply.
but every cent of the money is gone !!
There's a months rent due and no end of little
outstanding bills. Besides, the doctor won't
be coming much longer, and then, of course,
thcrc'l he his bill ~ ....-
Heaven help me! her words almost killed mel
But even then little Trudc was equal to the
occasion.
"We must make some money, Annie" ;" she
said firmly.
"How 2'' in despair.
"It is the height of the blackberry season,
and the fruit is unusually fine. shall go out
at o'clock tomorrow morning, pick several
quarts and sell every one of them at hotels be-
fore noon. shall do the same as long as the
berries last you will then see whether we can
make a little money or notI" -s.
could have arisen and fallen ut her feet in
worship of her heroism; hut poor Annie took
life more seriously; she seemed proof against
Trude's hopefulness.
oh. that could never succeed" she sighed.
Well, I'm going to try, anyway" was the
undauntcd rejoinder.
After u short pause Annie said. suddenly:
"Trude, we are in desperate straight; why
couldn't you write to Gerald Dayton and ask
him to lend us some money!"
Anniei" o.
"Well, he was in love with you before
mother died he is very rich and I'm positive
you would have been his wife to-day If you
had let him ask you: so why"
Oh, hush hushi" Gertrude cried. Not
a word more of that! Let me have my own
way. Relieve me, sball succeed"
About 10 o'clock on the following morning
Annie came TO me, all dressed up in her best
and, in a nervous way, asked me II I con1d
spare her for a couple of hours to go into the
village with Trude.
knew in an instant the IIackberris had
been picked and that the dear girls were going
together to try their fortune.
Rather than distress annie by letting hef
know that had overheard their conversation
of the preceding evening assured her that I
was perfectly comfortable and urged her going.
As they went down the garden path crept
to the window and looked after them.
Through the scalding tears that gathered be-
fore my eyes like flm saw Trnde with large
basket upon each arm, while my poor little
wife followed her with the baby in her arms.
God only knows what suffered during those
two hours. .
had fallen into light sleep from sheer
misery and exhaustion when was awakened
by the entrance of Annie
Her face was as radiant as an angela She
put the baby down beside me and Kissed me as
though she had not seen me for ten years.
"oh, what do you think ?" she cried. 'fwho
do yon suppose Is in the parfof with Trude ?"
made very sbreWd guess.
"Gerald Dayton" said.
"Yes ~ exclaimed Atinfe. EtTrude went to
town to sell some biackberries, and at the very
first hotel we came TO who should see her but
Mr.. Dayton. He took her to task then and
there fornot letting him know where she had